Package vending machine



Nov. 13, 1951 RUBENS-[Em 2,575,129 I PACKAGE VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct, so, 1947 5 Sheets-She et 1 FI 2 FIE; 1

' IN VEN TOR. JAE 1:15 I-LEUEE NETE m BY 73M 6 ZD ATT DFLN EY 5 Nov. 113, 1951 J. H. RUBENSTEIN PACKAGE VENDING MACHINE Fild Oct. 30, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

W cm H RUE1BNETEIN 730ml AQAM ATTORNEYS Nov. 13, 1951 J. H. RUBENSTEIN PACKAGE VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 50, 1947 INVENTOR mmlzaw N 11mm HfiuBENsTEm ATTORNEYS Nov. 13, 1951 J. H. RUBENSTEIN 2,575,129

PACKAGE VENDING MACHINE Filed 001;. 30, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IINVENTOR. JAB n5 Hfmsz. N STEIN BY awwwm ATT DRNEYS (0 w" H [u Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES g v 2 5 29: PACKAGE VENDING MAGH'I'NE J cob 11,, aubcasein, Srr nsaNtX Application October 30, 194,7 serial No. 7 34332 7 Claims 'This'invent-icnrelates to package vending machines, as for example -ma'ch-ines for vending packages ofcigarettes. It is desirable that such machines be so constructed that the packages are vended or made available, tothe purchaser at a point substantially waist 'h-igh'irom the floor. The most practical manner which to arrange the-packagesfor vending is-to arrange them in stack orcolumn formationabove the package ejecting mechanism, whereby the packages are fed to themechanism by gravity. With such an arrangement the supply of packages must be confined between the discharge mouth, or openi'ng'of the machine, and the top of the-cabinet Vending machines of this type are located in places frequented by the public in relatively large numbers, such as theatre lobbies, building corridors, etc.,-and in order that the machines may bereadily movedintoand out of such places, the overall height of the machine is restricted and accordingly, thespace available for the package "columns'is restricted. In addition to the limitation as to the height of the columns, it is advantageous, ifnot necessary; that these machines be so constructed as to vend the products of several difierentmanm iactu'rers. In regard to -cigarette vending mas. chines, each column,-or stack, is made up of one brand of cig'arette. Accordingly, the supply of one brand of cigarette is limited toa small nurnher of packages requiring the machine tohe frequently serviced, and this adds materially togthe cost of operating the machine.

In some of these vending machines, an attempt has been made to increase the number of pack. ages by arranging them in two-columns, one for.- wardly of the other. However, in such machines the packages ejected from the rear column are ejected under the weight of the packages in the forward column. This requires a, greater effort on the part of the purchaser, if the machine is manually operated, or it requires more power if the machine is power operated, and such an arrangement increases the likelihood'of the-packages jamming and rendering the machine inoperative.

This invention has-as an object apackage vending machine embodying a structure whereby the packages are arranged in rows consisting of forward and rear columns, and package ejector mechanism operable to successively eject pack.- ages from the rear column without the ejected packages engaging, or coming in contact with the packages in the forward column. Upon exhaustion of the packages in the rear-column,theejec- (c1. crease).

tor mechanism successively ejects the packages fromthetorwardcolumn. a r -The-mvention has as a furtherobject an ejector mechanism which is entirely automatically power operated and-which embodies a structure wherebyit is particularly rug fid and durable, all whereby the machine has maximum reliability with ininimum-"of -maintenance;

The invention has asa'further object-an ejecting mechanism operable to selectively eject packages from one ofseveral rows or stacks, and h ch o istsfv a sin e u i which n quickly and conveniently removed, initsrentirety, from the casing without-the use of any tools; or nte f i wi h ec 'uinnt 'packas a r e pa tso the: machine- T is r u of' the enti n is of m a n a in endins m h. es in u e; he pa kage .1 ent nemeshanism is Q a rel t ly m lica ed at e and is bui i o there at f he mae in Acco di l -Wh n th In a sm'b com s defect ve; t s sar i iorithe service ma to :,v ss imble hwar s of the mechanism at its loca on and because these a e usna r ocated i e ied lat itis dlfi sul i for 2 i e man to w rk on t e mac in wia lreiem mechani m he @11 tire. mechanism is r mo ble as a. un t u on lessening w humb screw s ea at nc' an el c cal us Q 1219 1 to the uni acc d? iaslyl i t en itb wms.deieci kii enfbs readil and uickl em d and erlagst w th a n nit. eristalsis: e rlc eei re. he returaecltqt i see ae a esa na iaeee nner iavorab sshqn 99a 35 The i ve tiqn cc tsenevsl starts and n thes mbi in ite ss i i describin his ra en a zmierema s had tq the a somnaerin alte 5 sas Vie; like char ct rs desi nate eqrssspqasims al ai ed.

.fl ent ele etipnail. View f a an; mam s: necentaiainsmyin nt qaj. Figur -.1215 a .ye tiqa s ctiqnal iew ta en an lmeZm r 31), I l. s .Fi ure 3.: w taken Qalin 7 t- Figu e nigureeiis r ewr aksn on. line imkg i llii Figure l 5 is ancnlareed iew c th pac a e ejector mechanism in ope pa ka e part a ly-eje ted; i Figure F1 a; view..sir ller- 0 lsl r ta g illustrating: the length: mechanisiaatihs ends;

its forward stroke ejecting a package from the forward column.

Figure 8 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the electrical circuit embodied in the machine.

The invention consists generally oi. a suitable cabinet formed, or provided, with means for supporting a plurality of rows of packages, each row consisting of two columns, one arranged forward- IV of the otherj'jthe"columnsbeing individually supportedwith the-lowermost package in the forward column positioned in a plane above the lowermost package in the rear column. The package ejecting mechanism unit isarranged in the cabinet below the rows of packages and is operable to first engage and successively eject packages from the rear column of a selected row, the packages being ejected along a path below the forward column, whereby the ejected packages do not contact the packages in the forward column and upon exhaustion of thepackages in the rear column, the ejecting, mechanism thereupon successively ejects packages from the for- Wa olumn- The machine includes conventional coin operated mechanism for preliminarily conditioning the machine for the package vending operation. This operation, insofar as thepurchaser is concerned, consists merely in pressing a switchbutton corresponding to the package, or kind of package, he desires to purchase. The package is ejected automatically by power Operated means.

The cabinet I9 is formed of sheet metal, or the like, and is mountedupon a' base ll provided with floor engaging feet 42. The cabinet 10 is substantially U-shaped, with the open side forwardly, and to which is mounted an outer door l3 hinged along one side, as at 14. The door 13 is provided with a frame 15 in which are mounted a plurality of switch buttons I 6, there being abutton for each rowbf packages contained in the machine. The lower portionof the'door"lj3 is provided with a frame ll forming a discharge mouthor opening [8. p The cabinet 10 is detachably secured to the base H by thumb screws extending through the top plate 21 of the base and threading into the bottom plate 22 of thecabinet, The cabinet is also formed with spaced apart upright partitions 24, 25, which are secured to the rear wall 26 of the cabinet. The forward edge of the upright 24 is secured to a flange 2! extending laterally from the side of the cabinet, see Figure 4. The lower edges ofthe uprights are bent inwardly forming flanges 28 welded, or otherwise secured tothe bottom-plate 22 of the cabinet.

The packages 29 are arranged in vertically extending rows, or stacks, by partition plates 30. The rear edges of these plates are bent to form flanges 3| secured to cross members 32 extending transversely of the cabinet and secured at their ends to the uprights 24, 25. The forward edges of the partitions 30 are bent to form package retaining flanges 33 for the forward columns; Angle pieces 35 are secured-to the partitions 30 midway between the front and rear edges thereof, see Figured. These angle members 35 extend vertically and form guides'for the rear ends of the packages in the forward column and for the forward ends of the packages in the r'ear'column. The packages in'the-rear column 36 are supported by shelves in the form of angle members 49 se cured to the lower ends of the partitions 39, see Figures 3 and 4; and extend forwardly under theforward column; The packages in the forscrews 46. An operating shaft 49 is journalled at its ends in bearings 50, the shaft extending transversely of the tray 45 below the columns 36, 4!.

-An-arm 5| is secured at one end to the shaft 49 and-is connected at its opposite end to a plunger "52 of asolenoid 53 by a link 54 and a yoke 55.

Thelink 54 extends between the legs of the yoke 55 and is encircled by a helical compression spring 56 interposed between the bottom of the yoke and a collar 51 secured to the end of the link, whereby the solenoid is yieldingly connected to the arm 5|. When the solenoid is energized, clockwiserotation of theshaft 49 is effected.

A'plurality of carriers in the form ofarms 58 are freely mounted upon the shaft 49., These arms consistof a pair of sideplates maintained in spaced apart relation byshouldered pins. arm is positioned below each row of packages consisting of the rear and forward columns 36, 4|. Package ejector members 59 andfifl are pivotally mounted on the upper end of each of the arms 58. The ejector member 59 is pivoted to a rearwardly extending portion 6-2 on a pin 53. The

arm 68 is pivoted on a pin 64. The members 59. 68, are provided with counterweights 55, 66,.respectively. These counterweights serve to rotate the members about their respective pivot pins in a counter-clockwise direction against stop pins 61, 68. When the member 59engages its stop pin Bl, the outer end of the member will engage-the rear end of the lowermost package in the rear column 39 and slide-the same along the annular supporting members 40 {to eject the package. When the membertfl isin engagement with its stop pin 68, see. Figure 7, the outer end of the member will engage the lowermost packagein the forward column 4| and, upon forward movement of the arm 58, eject that package. 7 Means is provided for selectively connecting or coupling any one of the arms 58 to the shaft 49. A pin 19 is secured to'the shaft 49 and extends upwardly therefrom between the side plates of each arm. The upper end of the pin is formed with a reduced neck portion H and a head por tion 12. V

The pins 10 are engagedby a latch member 15 pivotally mounted on pin 16 of each arm. The ,members 15 extend rearwardly from the arms,; andthe rearwardly extending portion 13 is weighted, as at 19, to, effect a counter-clockwise, movement of the member I5 about the pin 16. pTheforwardlyextending portion of themember 15 is provided with a block 89 having a lip 8| to engage the neck H of the pin l9 when the member 15 is rotated in a clockwisedirection, Figures 5, 6 and '7. Normally, the members .15 are positioned, as shown in Figure 5, and in this position forward movement of the pinslO, upon oscillation of the shaft, by the solenoid 53,does not transmit forward movement to the arms 58. The members 15 are selectively rotated clockwise by :a solenoid 82 positioned below the rearwardly extendi 120. 210 l 95. 5 39 2111 d members 15. When energized,- the iunger ss or the solenoid movesupwardly engaging the tail portion 18- andmoving the black 80 downwardly that the lip 8| willbeengaged-by the 'ne'ck-of the pin- 10' beneath the head 12, as show-n in Figure- 6. In this manner, the arm'58 is moved for-'- war-'dly by thesolenoid 53. a 3

The solenoid 82 is energized" by aswitch 8-l which is closed upon insertionof the roper-coins m the coin control mechanism of the machine. As previously stated, the coin control mechanism may be ofany conventional form, and is 16-- dated on the upright 25, the mechanism being diagrammatically indicated by therectang-le 88; lid'g'ii-i-"e 3. The frame is provided with one or more coin receiving slots 89' arranged so that coins inserted inthe slots pass into the -coin-coritrol" mechanism 88 and effect energization of the solenoid 82. Each of the solenoids 8-2-is"- 'cb'n hected in circuit through one of the push but: tons Hi, the push button switches H3 being con nected in series with the coin operated switch Accordingly, the purchaser may select the kind of package he desires by selecting the row in which such packages are arranged in the col= umns 36, 4|, the selection being made by pre s; ing the push button switch H5 corresponding to that row. 7 r A control shaft 9| is also j'our'nalle'd'in the tray 45 and extends parallel to the shaft 49 and to the rear of the arms 58 when the arms are in retracted position, see Figure 5; The shaft 9| is provided with a bracket 92 depending from the ends of the shaft and extending parallel therewith across the machine.

The members 15 are formed with depending arms 93*. The bracket is urged against the arms 93 by a spring 94, the arms being positioned against stop pins 95 carried by the respective arms 58. When the solenoid 82 is energized, and the plunger 83 accordingly elevated, clockwise movement of the member 15, and the armfl93 carried thereby, effects clockwiserotation of the shaft 9|, moving the bracket carried thereby into engagement with a switch 98. Closing of the switch 96 effects energiz'ation of thesoleiioid 53. Accordingly, when the proper coin's'areiri felted in the coin slots 89 and one of the buttons 15 is pressed inwardly, the solenoid 82 is energized positioning the block 80 to be engaged by the corresponding pin 70 and thereupon energizing the solenoid 53, which effects clockwise rotation of the shaft 49, as previously explained, and this movement is imparted to the selected arm 58 through the pin 10 and the block 80, as shown in Figure 6. This forward movement of the arm 58 effects forward ejection ofone of .the packages 29 through a passage 9'! into a package discharge chamber 98. The forward movement of the arms 58 under the influenceof the sole: noid 53 is rapid, and the momentum of. the arm carries it forward after the plunger 52 reaches the bottom of its stroke. This forward movement brings the lip 8| of the block 80 out from under the head 12 of the pin 70, see Figure,- '7. The forward movement of the arm 58 is arrested by the pin 16 engaging the pin 18. The weight 19 effects counterclockwise movement of the member about its pivot T5 to the position shown in Figure 5, whereupon the switch 96 is opened and the arm 58 is returned by the spring H0. Counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 49, Figures 5, 6 and 7, is effected by spring 99, Figure 4. The discharge chamber 98 is formedin an inner door construction consistingof a back=p1ate 3 ages in the columns 36, 4|.

l 00 hinged at |0i|1to the flange 21 kindplates I02, and afront plate |03-.. The: discharge cham.-- ber' 98 is positioned .inregister with the: opening [8 in the outer door l3. The rear wall I00: and the bottom wall -|05 of the discharge chamber are formedfrom sheet material extending, transversely of the inner door structure and secured to the" end plates I02 thereof. The bottom. wall is oftrough formation toreceive the ejected packa es indicated in dotted outline at I06, Figure 5. The discharge passage is formed by a baifi'e I01 forming a continuation of the package support-.- members 48, and an inclined bafiie I08 extending forwardly and downwardly from the rear wall- I 00 of the inner. door structure and! ter- Ininating" remote from the front wall of the discharge chamber 98; A third baffle I09. extends inwardly and downwardly from the front wall of the discharge chamber below the lower end of the bafile I08 With this baffle arrangement, the packages are deposited in the bottom wallor trough I05 right side up, and the baffle arrangement prevents any tampering with the pack'-, This package discharge arrangement minimizes the overall depth of the machine and prevents packages from-being caught, or jammed, during ejection from the columns, or stacks. It will be understood that the bafiles I01, I08, I09, extend transversely across the inner doorstructure. v I

A previously explained, the lowermost package in the forward columns 4| are positioned above the path traveled by the packages ejected from the rear column 36(- The package ejector mechanism' functions to first successively eject packages from the rear column and when that column has become exhausted, to successively eject packages from the forward column.

The arms 58 are moved to retracted position by tension springs l0, and during this rearward, or return, movement, the ejector member59 engages the lowermost package in the rear column if there is one in the column, and is moved clock- Wise about its pivot 63, the member sliding under the package.- When the arm has reached its full rearward stroke, the counterweight 65 swings the member 59 toward vertical position, as shown in Figure 5, and the next forward movement of that arm will eject the lowermost package, if any, in the rear column.

When the arm 58 ha reached its rearward position, and if there is a package in the rear column, the rearside of the member 60 will engage the forward end of the package, and the member will be moved clockwise about its pivot 84. v This movement is sufficient to lower the free end of the member below the lowermost package in the forward column, see Figure 5. Under these conditions, forward movement of the arm 58 will not effect ejection of a package from the forward column. If however, there is no package in the rear column, the counterweight 66 will swing the member 60 about its pivot, raising the upper end of the member in position to engage the lowermost package in the forward column, see Figure 7. This arrangement provides a very simple mechanism for successively ejecting the. packages from both columns, and permits-the guide flanges 33, 35, to be spaced apart to allow for regular cigarette packages; and also the longer packages, known in the trade as king size.

The circuit for energizing-the solenoids 53, 82, is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 8.. In this arrangemennthe push button switches IE'are connectedin series with each other and with the coin operated switch 81. Insertion of the proper coin effects closing of contact I20, I2I, furnishing a hot lead to the movable element of the button switches I6. These elements are normally in engagement with contacts I22 to complete the series arrangement. When the contacts I20, IZI,

are closed and one of the push buttons I6 is pressed, the movable contact is moved intoengagement with a contact I23 connected to one of the solenoid 82 through wire I24. The opposite side of the solenoid i connected to the common return I29, through wire I26. Accordingly, the solenoid 82, associated with the push button switch I6 actuated by the customer, is thus energized and effectsclosing of contacts in the associated switch 96. The switch 96 is connected to the hot side I28 of the supply through wire I29, and the opposite contacts of this switch is connected to one side of the solenoid 53, through conductor I30, the solenoid being connected to the common return I25 through wire I3I. Accordingly, when any one of the solenoids B2 is energized, the switch 96 is closed, completing a circuit to the solenoid 53 for operating the package ej ecting mechanism.

It will be understood that conventional coin switches include mechanism whereby the coin contacts of the switches areopened after the vending operation, and also usually include mechanism for returning the coins inthe event the supply of packages in the machine has become exhausted. However, the coin mechanism may be of any such conventional design and forms no part of this invention.

It will be observed that the packages are ejected from the rear column without frictionally engaging the packages in the forward column, thus eliminating the possibility of the machine jamming when the forward column is completely filled with packages. This is an important feature because in many jurisdictions, in addition to the weight of the package, one or more pennies are inserted in the package for return change and these coins, plus the weight of the relatively high stack, exert considerable pressure on packages being ejected from the rear column in machines at present in use.

The machine is reloadedby opening the outer door I3 and the inner door structure carrying the discharge chamber and bafile structure, and when these doors are opened the ejecting mechanism, as a complete unit, can be removed by simply removing the two thumb screw 48.

, What I claim is:

1. A package vending machine comprising a casing having means fixedly mounted therein for supporting forward and rear columns of packages, the lowermost package of the forward column being supported in elevated position relative to the lowermost package in the rear column, a carrier mounted in the casing and movable forwardly and rearwardly below said columns, a pair of package ejector members mounted on said carrier, means operable to yieldingly move said ejectors in engagement with the lowermost package in said columns respectively. one of said members being operable upon engagement with the lowermost package in the rear column and to eject the same upon forward movement of said carrier, the second ejector member being operable upon engagement with the lowermost package in the forward column and operable when so engaged and upon forward movement of said carrier to eject said lowermost package from the forward column, said second ejector member being maintained out of package engagement by the lowermost package in the rear column.

2,. A package vending machine including, acas: ing formed with means to separately supporttwo columns of packages in tandem relation, an ejector carrier mounted in the casing and movable forwardly and rearwardly below said coliunn, a package ejector pivotally mounted on said carrier, means operable to yieldingly move said ejector member to cause the free end thereof to engage the rear side of the lowermost package in the rear column, a second package ejector pivotally mounted on said carrier, means yieldingly urging said second, ejector to cause the free end thereof to engage the rear side of the lowermost package in the forward column, actuating means operable to effect movement of said carrier forwardly and rearwardly below said columns, and said second ejector being maintained out ofpacb age engaging position by the lowermost package in the rear column.

3. A package vending machine comprising a casing having means fixedly mounted therein for supporting two columns of packages in a row with one column arranged forwardly of the other-including a shelf for supporting the packagesin the rear column and extending forwardly below the forward column, and a second shelf fixedly secured above the forward portion of. said first shelf for supporting the packages in the forward column, a package ejecting mechanism ,arranged in the casing below said columnsincluding a carrier mounted in the casing and movable forwardly and rearwardly below said columns, a package ejecting member mounted on said carrier for engagement with the lowermost package in the rear column upon forward movement of the carrier, a second package ejecting member mounted on the carrier for engagement with the lowermost package in said forward column upon forward movement of the carrier, said second package ejecting member being maintained out of package engaging position by the lowermost package in the rear column. 7

4. A package vending machine including a cas ing formed with means for receiving two columns of packages in a row, one arranged forwardly of the other, a shelf fixedly secured in the casing for supporting the packages in the rear column and extending forwardly below the forward column, a second shelf fixedly secured in the casing above the forward portion of said first shelf for supporting the packages in said forward column, a carrier mounted in the casing and movable forwardly and rearwardly below said columns, a package ejector member mounted on said carrier for engagement with the rear side of the lowermost package in the rear column upon forward movement of the carrier, a second package ejector mounted on said carrier for engagement with the rear side of the lowermost package in the forward column upon forward movement of said carrier, actuating means operable to effect movement of said carrier forwardly and rearwardly below the columns, and said second ejector member being maintained out of package engaging position by the lowermost package in the rear column.

5. A package vending machine including a casing formed with means to separately support two columns of packages, one carried forwardly of the other, package ejecting mechanism operable to successively eject packages first from said rear column and upon exhaustion of packages in said rear column to successively eject packages from said forward column, said mechanism including a carrier mounted in the casing and movable forwardly and rearwardly below said columns, a package ejecting member mounted on said carrier for engagement with the lowermost package in said rear column upon forward movement of said carrier, a second package ejecting member mounted on the carrier for engagement with the lowermost package in said forward column upon forward movement of said carrier, said second package ejecting member being maintained out of package engagement by the lowermost package in the rear column.

6. A package vending machine including a casing having means for supporting two columns of packages, one arranged forwardly of the other, a carrier mounted in the casing below said columns and being movable forwardly and rearwardly thereof, a package ejector movably mounted on said carrier, means yieldingly moving said ejector to cause the same to engage the lowermost package in the rear column, a second ejector member movably mounted on said carrier, and means yieldingly moving said second ejector in position to engage the lowermost package of the forward column, said second ejector engaging the forward side of the lowermost package in the rear column upon rearward movement of the carrier and upon such engagement being prevented from engaging the lowermost package in said forward effect oscillation of said shaft to effect forward and rearward movement of said arm below said columns while the arm is coupled to the'shaft, a package ejecting member for each column carried on the upper end of said arm and operable upon oscillation of the arm to engage and successively eject packages from said columns, said ejecting member for the forward column being "maintained out of package engaging position by the lowermost package in the rear column.

JACOB H. RUBENSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 689,161 Buck Dec. 17, 1901 1,247,665 Giles Nov. 27, 1917 1,314,901 Ray et a1. Sept. 2, 1919 1,814,795 Giles July 14, 1931 1,909,036 Antoine May 16, 1933 1,912,999 Richardson et a1. June 6, 1933 1,926,847 Giles; Sept. 12, 1933 2,218,657 Richardson et al. Oct. 22, 1940 2,279,936 Brodie Apr. 14, 1942 2,333,176 Hoban Nov. 2, 1943 

